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CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - The University of Northern Iowa football team has signed 22 student-athletes to letters-of-intent on National Signing Day, UNI head coach Mark Farley announced Wednesday.
The list of signees includes four elite all-state performers from the state of Iowa and two junior college transfers. Of the 20 high school signees, 10 are from the state of Iowa and 10 come from out-of-state.
UNI is coming off a 10-3 season, a share of the Missouri Valley Football Conference championship, and a berth in the NCAA FCS Quarterfinals. The Panthers have finished six of the last 11 seasons ranked in the top five nationally.
Offense
Evan Williams, 6-0, 200, RB, Minneapolis, Minn. (DeLaSalle HS/Iowa Western CC)
Kevin Carroll, 6-3, 280, OL, Edina, Minn. (Edina HS)
Trevor Hanson, 6-5, 280, OL, West Des Moines, Iowa (WDM Valley HS)
Dustin Ihns, 6-3, 285, OL, Tipton, Iowa (Tipton HS)
Justin Putney, 6-6, 305, OL, Forest City, Iowa (Forest City HS)
Robert Rathje, 6-3, 265, OL, Van Horne, Iowa (Benton Community)
Ty Soulek, 6-5, 285, OL, Yankton, S.D., (Yankton)
Griffin Gaeta, 6-6, 215, TE, Muscatine, Iowa (Muscatine HS)
Logan Cunningham, 5-11, 180, WR, Arcadia, Ind. (Hamilton Heights HS)
Justin Black, 6-2, 210, QB, Naples, Fla. (Barron Collier)
D.J. Hebert, 6-2, 185, Athlete, Maple Grove, Minn. (Osseo HS)
Tyvis Smith, 6-1, 185, Athlete, Davenport, Iowa (Davenport Central)
Defense
Breion Creer, 6-5, 255, DL, Shakopee, Minn. (Benilde-St. Margaret's)
Brett McMakin, 6-4, 215, DL, Overland Park, Kan. (Blue Valley West)
Karter Schult, 6-2, 240, DL, Tripoli, Iowa (Tripoli HS)
Ricky Taylor, 6-4, 295, DL, South Bend, Ind. (Saint Joseph HS/Iowa Central CC)
Nate Shaw, 6-1, 205, LB, Bettendorf, Iowa (Bettendorf)
Tavaughn Blair, 5-10, 175, DB, Minnetonka, Minn. (Hopkins HS)
Charles Brown, 5-10, 175, DB, Fort Meyers, Fla. (Fort Meyers HS)
Deiondre' Hall, 6-2, 170, DB, Blue Springs, Mo. (Blue Springs HS)
Tim Kilfoy, 6-1, 191, DB, Davenport, Iowa (Assumption HS)
Special Teams
Matt Easley, 5-10, 165, K, Newton, Iowa (Newton HS)
Student-Athlete Bios
Justin Black, 6-2, 210, QB, Naples, Fla. (Barron Collier)
Transferred from Port Huron, Mich., to play at Barron Collier for his senior season ... three-year starter, throwing for more than 1,000 yards each season ... led teams to the state playoffs as a sophomore, junior and senior ... ran for 560 yards as a sophomore and over 600 as a junior ... first quarterback at Barron Collier in the last 10 seasons to throw for over 1,000 yards ... team captain ... member of the all-academic team in Michigan prior to moving to Florida ... all-area honoree as a sophomore and junior, honorable mention all-conference as a senior ... also ran track and played basketball ... Fellowship of Christian Athletes leader and youth group mentor.
Tavaughn Blair, 5-10, 175, DB, Minnetonka, Minn. (Hopkins HS)
Second team all-state defensive back as a senior in 2011 ... named first team all-metro and Channel 12 all-metro team as a senior ... first team all-conference in the Lakes Conference as a junior and senior ... two-year team captain ... led the team in tackles a senior and interceptions as a junior ... track letterwinner in 2009 and 2010 ... honor roll student ... high school coach: John DenHartog.
Charles Brown, 5-10, 175, DB, Fort Meyers, Fla. (Fort Meyers HS)
Third team all-state cornerback in 6A as a senior in 2011 ... first team all-district as a senior ... first-team all-area selection at cornerback as a junior and senior ... voted team MVP by his teammates following his senior season ... third in the state of Florida in the 400m, clocking a time of 48.84 ... 10th in Florida in the long jump with a mark of 22-07.75 ... district and regional champion in the 400m.
Kevin Carroll, 6-3, 280, OL, Edina, Minn. (Edina HS)
2011 Minnesota Associated Press second team all-state selection ... KARE 11-TV first team all-metro ... Star Tribune second team all-metro ... Star Tribune all-metro preseason "Dream Team" ... all-conference selection in 2010 and 2011 ... EHS Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2010 and 2011 ... Rivals.com Top 10 Minnesota recruit ... ESPN150 Top 8 Minnesota recruit ... team captain.
Breion Creer, DL, Shakopee, Minn. (Benilde-St. Margaret's)
All-conference lineman as a junior in 2010 ... academic all-conference pick as a junior ... team captain ... four-year participant in basketball and track ... team MVP in basketball and an all-conference performer in track ... active volunteer in the community, serving with Peace Bridge, People Serving People and Feed My Starving Children ... son of Joseph Creer and Carmen Phillips ... has one sister, Breanne.
Logan Cunningham, 5-11, 180, WR, Arcadia, Ind. (Hamilton Heights HS)
Owns seven school offensive records (career all-purpose yards, career touchdowns, career receiving yards, career receiving touchdowns, career return yards, single-season receiving yards, single-game touchdowns and career interceptions) ... all-state selection as a junior and senior ... three-time first team All-Mid Indiana Conference ... four-time All-Indianapolis Star selection ... named team MVP twice ... three-time All-Hamilton County ... led Hamilton Heights to three playoff appearances ... 2,282 all-purpose yards and 30 touchdowns as a senior ... also made four interceptions and 40 tackles ... owned the longest touchdowns in the state in four different categories for the 2011 season - 98-yard kickoff return (twice), 95-yard rush, 94-yard receiving, 93-yard INT return ... 71 career touchdowns ... 6,677 career all-purpose yards ... led the state of Indiana in kick return and punt return average for three seasons ... voted MVP of the Lucas Oil Horseshoe Classic ... winner of the Big Orange Award for on-field and off-field work ... son of Steve and Lisa Cunningham ... has two brothers, Landon and Morgan.
Matt Easley, 5-10, 165, K, Newton, Iowa (Newton HS)
Second team all-state honoree in Class 3A by the Des Moines Register and Iowa Preps ... third team all-state pick by the INA ... holds school records for most career field goals (18), most field goals in a season (10 in 2011), and tied a state record with four field goals in a game ... in his senior season, he was 10-of-15 on field goals, 23-of-24 on extra points, and kicked 23 touchbacks.
Griffin Gaeta, 6-6, 215, TE, Muscatine, Iowa (Muscatine HS)
Three-year varsity letterwinner ... second team all-state and second-team all-conference tight end as a junior in 2010 ... all-metro team pick at tight end as a senior ... won the Tip Willis award at Muscatine HS for outstanding effort ... team captain ... also a three-year letterwinner in basketball, playing for the Iowa Barnstormers AAU basketball program for three years ... three-time state meet qualifier in the high jump, placing seventh as a junior.
Deiondre' Hall, 6-2, 170, DB, Blue Springs, Mo. (Blue Springs HS)
Honors include first team all-state and first team all-metro ... also named to the All-Simone team, which is given to the top players in the Kansas City area ... led Blue Springs to a 7-3 record as a senior and was a two-way starter at wide receiver and free safety ... despite opposing teams' efforts to avoid him, Hall finished the season with 52 tackles, eight pass breakups and four interceptions ... caught 35 passes for 710 yards and 9 touchdowns as the top offensive weapon for Blue Springs ... finalist for the Otis Taylor Award, given to the best receiver or tight end in the Kansas City area ... son of Rosie and Clifton Hall.
Trevor Hanson, 6-5, 280, OL, West Des Moines, Iowa (WDM Valley HS)
Elite all-state offensive lineman by the Des Moines Register and first team all-state by the Iowa Newspaper Association ... first team all-conference ... two-time academic all-conference pick ... three-year starter at West Des Moines Valley HS as an offensive tackle ... has also been involved in track & field and church youth group ... started an automotive detailing business through WDM Valley's entrepreneurship class ... high school coach: Gary Swenson ... son of Karin and Rich Hanson.
D.J. Hebert, 6-2, 185, Athlete, Maple Grove, Minn. (Osseo HS)
Played quarterback, safety and wide receiver for Osseo HS as a senior ... first team All-Northwest Suburb Conference ... All-Channel Twelve ... third team All-Metro ... offensive MVP and three-year team captain ... led team to a share of the conference championship ... also first team all-conference and All-Channel Twelve as a junior in 2010 ... four-year starter ... captain of the basketball team and an all-conference selection on the 2010-11 squad that won a conference championship, region championship and third place at the state tournament ... high school football coach: Derrin Lamker ... son of Ellen Stewart and Darrin Hebert.
Dustin Ihns, 6-3, 285, OL, Tipton, Iowa (Tipton HS)
Named to the INA all-state third team as a defensive lineman ... second team Quad City Times All-Eastern Iowa as an offensive lineman ... first team all-district pick on offense ... academic all-district as a junior ... team captain and team MVP ... also won three letters in baseball, two letters in track & field and two letters in wrestling ... co-founder of the Strength Club ... high school coach: Josh Bahr ... son of Patrick and Kelly Ihns ... has one sister, Taylor.
Tim Kilfoy, 6-1, 191, DB, Davenport, Iowa (Assumption HS)
Elite all-state pick by the Des Moines Register and Iowa Preps ... first-team Class 4A all-state selection by the Des Moines Register, Iowa Newspaper Association and Iowa Sports Network ... Quad City Times all-area defensive back and captain of the all-area team ... first team all-conference ... named MVC Defensive MVP ... rated No. 1 defensive back on Rivals pre-season list ... selected for Iowa Shrine Bowl ... 16 career interceptions - only one short of the Class 4A record ... intercepted four passes in the 2011 season, returning all four for touchdowns and a total of 248 return yards ... racked up 107 total tackles as a senior, an average of 10 per game ... scored 19 total touchdowns ... also a first team all-state pick by Iowa Preps and Iowa Sports Network as a junior ... second team all-state by the Des Moines Register and Iowa Newspaper Association as a junior ... academic all-conference ... also played baseball, basketball and track ... high school coach: Wade King ... son of Tim and Jennifer Kilfoy ... has three siblings: Melissa, Allison and MaryKate.
Brett McMakin, 6-4, 215, DL, Overland Park, Kan. (Blue Valley West)
All-state in class 6A as a senior ... also all-conference, all-county and all-metro, playing defensive end and tight end ... 2010 defensive end MVP at the National Underclassmen Combine and 2011 tight end MVP ... all-state, all-conference, and all-county as a junior ... holds several high school records including single season tackles (86), fumble recoveries in a game (3) and career tackles ... 86 total tackles as junior and 71 as a senior ... son of Edward & Lisa Culliton and Matthew & Jill McMakin ... has three brothers: Seth, Conner and Cale, and one sister, Beatrice.
Justin Putney, 6-6, 305, OL, Forest City, Iowa (Forest City HS)
Named first team all-state offensive tackle by the Des Moines Register and first team all-state by Iowa Preps following the 2011 season ... second team all-state selection by Iowa Sports Connection ... third team all-state by the Iowa Newspaper Association ... first team all-district ... Globe Gazette All-Area Team ... 2012 Iowa Shrine Bowl invitee ... three-year starter and three-year letterwinner ... led FCHS to their first-ever district title and first-ever appearance in the IAHSAA state playoffs ... high school coach: Chad Moore ... three-time letterwinner in basketball, starting at center his junior and senior year ... also participates in band and is a Special Olympics volunteer ... son of Ed and Linda Putney.
Robert Rathje, 6-3, 265, OL, Van Horne, Iowa (Benton Community)
Elite all-state offensive lineman by the Des Moines Register as a senior ... first team all-state pick by the Iowa Newspaper Association and Des Moines Register ... academic all-state honoree by the Iowa Football Coaches Association ... as a junior, was selected a first team all-state defensive lineman by the INA and a second team all-state offensive lineman by the Des Moines Register ... first team all-district as a junior and senior ... team lineman MVP as a junior and senior ... high school coach: Clay Andersen ... also participated in varsity track & field for four years and varsity basketball for three years ... son of Jeff and Tammy Rathje ... has three brothers: Matt, Josh and Adam.
Karter Schult, 6-2, 240, DL, Tripoli, Iowa (Tripoli HS)
First team all-state by the INA in 2010 and 2011 ... first team all-state by IowaPreps.com in 2011 ... first-team all-district pick for three straight years (2009-11) ... 2011 National Guard Impact Player of the Year ... team captain ... second team all-conference pick in basketball in 2010 and 2011 ... first team all-conference selection in baseball in 2011 ... three-time academic all-district honoree in football ... two-time academic all-conference in both basketball and baseball ... member of National Honor Society ... honor roll student.
Nate Shaw, 6-1, 205, LB, Bettendorf, Iowa (Bettendorf)
Elite all-state linebacker selection by the Des Moines Register ... led the state of Iowa in tackles as a junior and senior ... broke the Bettendorf HS career tackles record with 384 ... Quad Cities all-metro pick ... first team all-conference ... three-year starter in football ... led Bettendorf to a state runner-up finish and a state semifinals appearance ... team captain ... three-time qualifier to the state wrestling tournament, placing fourth as a junior and sixth as a sophomore ... plays guitar in the Morning Star Academy chapel band.
Tyvis Smith, 6-1, 185, Athlete, Davenport, Iowa (Davenport Central)
First team all-state by the Iowa Newspaper Association as a senior ... first-team all-metro in the Quad Cities ... first team all-conference ... racked up 1,810 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns during his senior season ... helped Davenport Central to three straight playoff appearances ... rushed for 100-plus yards in 14 straight games ... third team all-conference as a junior ... also played basketball and ran track ... high school coach: Mark Roering ... son of Tiffany Copling.
Ty Soulek, 6-5, 285, OL, Yankton, S.D., (Yankton)
All-conference at center his junior and senior seasons ... all-state defensive tackle as a senior with seven sacks and 47 tackles ... named to South Dakota's Elite 45 team ... three-year starter ... son of Chad Soulek and Stephani Reinhardt.
Ricky Taylor, 6-4, 295, DL, South Bend, Ind. (Saint Joseph HS/Iowa Central CC)
All-region and first team all-conference defensive lineman following his sophomore season at Iowa Central ... led ICCC in sacks as a freshman and finished second in sacks as a sophomore ... all-state performer at Saint Joseph HS in South Bend., Ind., as a senior ... also earned all-conference honors and played in the North vs. South All-Star Game ... set a school record with 16 sacks in a season, earning the school's Defensive MVP honors ... junior college coach: Kevin Twait ... high school coach: Kevin Downey ... son of Rickardo Taylor, Sr., and Marica Taylor.
Evan Williams, 6-0, 200, RB, Minneapolis, Minn. (DeLaSalle HS/Iowa Western CC)
Attended Iowa Western Community College and will be a sophomore in the fall ... second-team all-state selection as a junior and senior at DeLaSalle HS in Minneapolis ... played quarterback as a senior and racked up 59 total touchdowns (47 rushing, 12 passing) ... 2,301 rushing yards his senior season ... 68-of-98 passing for 1,356 yards as a senior ... played running back as a junior, carrying 174 times for 2,261 yards and 41 touchdowns ... team captain ... state champion in the 4x100m relay in 2010 ... has clocked times of 10.6 in the 100m dash and 21.7 in the 200m dash ... also a 23-foot long jumper ... son of Steven and Dana Williams ... has one sibling, Taylor ... born Sept. 24, 1991, in Chicago.
